Shaadi Mein Zaroor Aana (SMZA) is Rajkummar Rao’s 6th release of 2017. Its subject, that of a marriage set in small town India, has been presented recently in films like Badrinath Ki Dulhania, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Shubh Mangal Saavdhan as well as in Rajkummar’s own movies Behen Hogi Teri and Bareilly Ki Barfi. There’s just too much feeling of familiarity with the subject and setting of this film. Even so, SMZA makes good with its premise for about an hour. The unique story with jilted lovers lodged in a rivalry and revenge game as they hold government jobs is fascinating. But like so many movies in Bollywood, SMZA kills the potential by indulging in unneeded melodrama and commercial movie formula.

This one’s based in Uttar Pradesh and has Sattu (Rajkummar Rao) and Aarti (Kriti Kharbanda) meeting for an alliance. Reluctantly they say ‘yes’ to arranged marriage and the time leading up to their big day has them fall in love. Things get dramatic when Aarti’s PCS (Provincial Civil Services) result is declared on the day of her marriage. She choses her career as a government officer over the probable homemaker tag and runs away from the wedding leaving Sattu high and dry. Years later their paths cross again, but this time Aarti is framed in a case of bribery and Sattu is the District Magistrate in charge of the investigation. Purely on the potential of its premise, SMZA is a concept at par with Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Abhimaan. But the execution is so trite it can give you a headache. The film shows flashes of brilliance, courtesy Rajkummar Rao’s brilliance as an actor, but then run-of-the-mill background scores, sound design and melodrama ruin the chances of the film. At one point, when Sattu and Aarti are at loggerheads as civil service officers, you actually feel as if the film’s going to be another fine feather in Rajkummar’s prolific hat. But then, the screenplay stretches and twists and turns into nausea-inducing farce.

The way SMZA’s writing and direction teams have managed to create both brilliance and embarrassment on the same film is truly perplexing. Its as if mid-production they decided to deliberately ruin a perfectly engaging movie by employing ’80s and ’90s movie clichés. The melodrama does grave disservice to the actors’ efforts. Rajkummar Rao is top-notch as expected, but even Kriti Kharbanda gives the best performance of her brief career. Tested character actors like Manoj Pahwa, Govind Namdeo, KK Raina and Vipin Sharma all chip in with excellent supporting performances. But none of it matters when the film is hell-bent on dropping relevant conversations and veering towards a contrived happily ever after climax.

When SMZA talks about the dowry system, the inequality towards women in civil services and general working opportunities etc, it really feels like a mature and relevant story. But the treatment is so lackluster that it relegates the movie to Indian soap opera status. It’s a definite letdown.